Fully Recognize and Improve Services for Women Vets

“70% of female IAVA members believe women's careers in the military were limited by restrictions on women in combat. ”

—2014 IAVA Member Survey

Nearly 280,000 women have served in Iraq and Afghanistan. While the number of male veterans is expected to decline in the next five years, the women veteran population will increase, and women have taken on new roles and responsibilities throughout the services.Though the quality of care and services for all veterans needs to dramatically improve, women veterans report not receiving even this basic standard. Not only do women veterans encounter unique barriers to care and benefits, they do so in a culture that frequently does not accept or fully recognize them as veterans.The VA has made some progress providing care, access and benefits for women veterans, but Congress and the VA must work to change the underlying culture and proactively identify and close gaps in care for women veterans.